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Seems like these days everyone is on the go from work to school to activity to home and then back again. Finding time just to eat ANYTHING can be a challenge, much less eat TOGETHER with your family. But not only is it time to enjoy a yummy meal together, eating together is a time to connect with each other on so many levels. There is a lot of research that shows that children who eat together with their family regularly have fewer academic and behavioral problems in school. It can be a time to relax and just enjoy each other’s company–no matter the age!
October is National Eat Better, Eat Together Month and I challenge each of you to try and eat at least one meal together as a family this week (better yet, try for at least five or more meals together this week!). For some of you, that may mean breakfasts are your time. Others, dinner time is it. Perhaps your time to connect is only one day a week–just pick a consistent day to make that your family meal day (say, every Sunday or Friday nights and add a movie or game night).
Eating together has many benefits: it provides stability, it is an opportunity for increased communication, it can relieve stress and best of all, it’s fun!
Make it fun by choosing a theme or recipes that you can plan and cook together. Cooking with your kids teaches them so much! Besides spending quality time together, it teaches them patience (waiting their turn or for the food to cook), math (measuring ingredients), taking turns and much more! I have spoken in my workshops before how easy it is to get started-even with your toddler children or grandchildren! I’ll be giving you some tips for that in an upcoming post. And the bonus–generally speaking, most kids are more willing to try a new food if they’ve made it themselves!
Is it just you and your significant other at home? Don’t let your busy work or volunteer lives keep you from connecting with each other! Make a point to have a weekly date at home. Cooking the meal together can be a great time to “plug-in” and chat.
Need a little more convincing or ideas on how to get started? Check out the links a little ways down just to the right under Family Meal Ideas–Plan Together, Eat Together! and you’ll find some more info. to help you!
Share your tips in the comments below on how you make family meal time together work for your family!
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